Homework #2

The purpose of this homework is to give you a chance to get familiar with using public-key cryptography and encrypt/decrypt files.
You may find this very handy when exchanging -- securely -- files with a business partner, or for protecting sensitive content
on your disk drive.

Part (i), 50 points: Create a plain text file
(named firstName-lastName-HW2-part-i.txt) that has three parts:

Your favorite poem (could be Shakespeare, a modern poet, a Haiku or some other form of poetry, it is ok
with me either way); however, please don't give me what comes at the top of your Google search, chances
are I've already seen it a number of times and have no patience to see it again. Be yourself, don't just
try to knock this assignment off! Here is a list of poetry you should avoid in your submission. (10 points)

Your (ASCII) public key (20 points)

A link to your public key on MIT's Public Key Server (20 points)

Encrypt the file (ASCII armor) and send it by email to your instructor.

NOTE: In addition to posting your public key to a key server you may want to make it available in your web page.

Part (ii), 50 points:

Create a plain text file, named firstName-lastName-HW2-part-ii.txt, that includes:

Explain why choosing a passphrase for your private key is very important

Explain why just encrypting the file you sent your instructor in step (i) might not be enough to protect confidentiality,
integrity, and availability.

An explanation of what you found hard about getting this assignment done.

Encrypt and sign the file and send it by email to your instructor.

You should complete this part within 24 hours from completing part (i).